Tiger Woods accepts plea deal for reckless driving charge after Florida crash
Quick Look
- Tiger Woods agreed not to contest a reckless driving charge in a plea deal with Florida prosecutors, accepting a five-year licence suspension and $1,000 fine.
- The deal followed a March rollover crash where Woods passed a breathalyser but declined drug testing, later admitting to taking prescription medication.
- No one was injured in the incident.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Tiger Woods was arrested in March following a rollover crash in Martin County, Florida. He initially pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor DUI and refusal to submit to testing charges. Woods stated he was seeking treatment after the incident.
Tiger Woods has agreed not to contest a reckless driving charge as part of a deal with prosecutors, reducing the original charge of driving under the influence from a rollover crash in Florida.
The golfer accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence and a $1,000 (£742) fine, as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors in Martin County, Florida.
Woods was arrested after the March crash, and had passed a breathalyser test but declined further testing for other drugs.
He pleaded not guilty the same month to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and refusal to submit to testing. Woods, 50, said he was seeking treatment after the incident.
"I'm completely confident and comfortable with the resolution of this case," Florida State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl said at a press conference after the hearing.
He said he strove to treat Woods like any other defendant.
"Today I resolved case involving a man who drives a golf ball for a living," Bakkedahl said. "Tomorrow, I'll resolve a case in the same matter for a man who drives a nail for a living."
No one was injured in the crash, though Woods had to crawl out through the passenger door to free himself.
Police released body camera footage in April that captured the aftermath of the incident, showing the golfing legend after his vehicle clipped a truck and rolled over.
In the video, Woods appears calm, kneeling on one knee as he tells officers: "I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom".
He passed a breathalyser test but declined to take a urinalysis screening for other drugs, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said at the time.
Woods told officers he had not consumed alcohol that day. When asked about any prescription medication, he responded, "I take a few", adding he had done so earlier that morning.
He then listed the medication, though that portion of the footage was redacted.
Officers told Woods they suspected his "normal faculties" were impaired by an "unknown substance".
Authorities later reported finding two white pills in his pocket, identified as hydrocodone, an opioid commonly prescribed to treat pain.
Woods wrote on social media following the incident, "I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.
"I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my wellbeing and work toward lasting recovery."
The incident marked Woods' second arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Tiger Woods will complete a treatment program for his health and recovery as stated in his social media post.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific prescription medications was Tiger Woods taking at the time of the crash?
- Will Tiger Woods face any additional disciplinary action from golf governing bodies?
- What treatment program is Tiger Woods pursuing for his health and recovery?







